The Big Gear Show announced a new location, invitation-only format and growth-driving resources for 2021. The show will feature 500 hand-selected retailers and 250 brands across the outdoor and cycling industries.
Its inaugural event was canceled due to COVID-19. The Show will take place on August 3-5, 2021, in Park City, UT at The Deer Valley Resort.
The demo component will be fully integrated with social distancing managed by show organizers on the water, trails, roads, and chairlifts. All manufacturers will exhibit in adjacent segment zones for buyers to see, try and buy safely. The Grassroots Outdoor Alliance and the National Bicycle Dealers Association have officially endorsed the show.
“Grassroots fully supports The Big Gear Show as our official paddlesports buying show,” said Rich Hill, President of the Grassroots Outdoor Alliance. “The unique demo-centric format of the show allows our members to see, feel, and test gear in a way that allows them to be strategic in times of unprecedented demand and challenges that our retailers face.”
“The NBDA and our 600 members proudly endorse The Big Gear Show, the only national show for the outdoor industry,” said Kent Cranford, Board Chair of the National Bicycle Dealers Association. “The Big Gear Show team clearly sees the importance of specialty retailers by providing us with an exciting experiential buying and educational event. This B2B format is long overdue and we now feel we have the perfect partner going forward.”
Moving the show to August avoids conflicts with retailers being out of their shops during the peak busy season in July. There also will be no consumers attending the in-person venue.
“While there’s a lot of ‘new’ to the 2021 edition of the Big Gear Show, one thing remains the same, our commitment to serve and resource the hardgoods community, which we believe is a key driver in the innovation of outdoor equipment,” said Show Founder, Sutton Bacon. Gear is central to the leading role outdoor recreation is taking in the pandemic and recession recovery.
“We understand that the future success of the specialty outdoor and bike business hinges on generating ongoing discovery and unique experiences for our target enthusiast consumers. Gear makers and purveyors are the joint architects of this experience,” Bacon continued.
Invitations for brands will be sent out in November. To learn more, go here.
Photo courtesy Big Gear Show
